Combination furniture.



Patented Aug. 6, I90l.

G Q Q c. & E. sT. HILAIRE.

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& E. sr. HILAIRE. COMBINATION FURNITURE.

(Application filed Nov. 28, 1899.)

'2 shefs-sheet 2.

(No Model.)

l l will 31u/wan fou UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE.

CAMILLE ST. HILAIRE AND ETTIENNE ST. HILAIRE, OE WILSON, MICHIGAN.

COMBINATION FURNITURE.

SPEGIFCAEION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,208, dated Augustl6, 1901. Application tiled November 28, 1899. Serial No. 738,563. (Nomodel.)

To a/ZZ whom it 17m/y concern.-

Be it known that we, CAMILLE ST. HILAIRE and ETTIENNE ST. HILAIRE,citizens of the United States, residing at Wilson, in the county ofMenominee, State of Michigamhave invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Combination Furniture; and we do herebydeclare thefollowing to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

The object of our invention is to provide an article of furniture whichcombines several well-known pieces now in common use; and with thisobject in view we construct a device such as is described in thisspecification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which likeletters of reference indicate similar parts, in the several views, andin which Figure 1 is a front elevation of our invention, and Fig. 2 isan end view of our invention when used as one article of furniture andshowing other uses to which it may be put in dotted lines.

Referring now to the drawings, in the manufacture of our invention Weconstruct a rectangular base portion a, in the front of which andcentrally thereof is a recess b, having vertical dividing-walls c,resulting in inter-` spaces d for the reception of account-books andsimilararticles. The recessb is bounded at either side by cupboards e,having shelves e', which said cupboards are accessible at the ends ofthe base-piece ct and may be closed by doors f, having knobs f'.Adjacent each of the cupboards e, forwardly thereof, and also accessibleat the ends of the base a are a series of drawers g, arranged one uponanother.

Extending longitudinally of the base a is a back board h, extendingbeyond the ends of the said base. Hinged to the upper edge of the backboard 7L is a rectangular portion t', comprising a rear Wallj, at thecenter of which is mounted a mirror o. At either side of the mirror kare recesses Z, each having a series of transversely-arranged shelves m.Beyond the recesses Zand accessible at the ends of the body z' arecupboards fn, having shelves o and suitable doors u', closing theinterspaces.

The top board p of the base portion a is not held rigidly in position,but is held in place by means of hooks q, fitting into sockets fr, whichare shown in dotted lines in Eig. 2. To the front portion of the topboard p is hinged a board s, which is normally held in engagement withthe board p through the medium of a spring u. (Shown in dotted lines inFig. 2.)

When it is desired to use our invention as a desk, the top board p israised and the spring u turned on its pivot u', allowing the board s tofall. Hooks q are then adjusted in the sockets t, and the base of theboard s is allowed to rest above the drawers g, thus holding the topboard p at the desired slant. When the desk is put out of use, the boards is again fastened by the spring u, the hooks removed from theirsupports, and the board t brought down into position upon the top of thebase portion o. When it is desired to use the dining-table, the uprightbody t is swung on its hinges and brought downwardly until the support crests upon the body portion a, and when in this position a cloth may bespread upon its then upper surface, as is customary in the use of anordinary table.

If preferred, instead of the employment of ordinary hinges to secure thebody i to the back board h spring-hinges may be used, which will greatlylessen the amount of labor required to support the body t when bringingit into the proper position for using as a table.

The 'shelves o may be used for the reception of napkins, dac. Thecupboards c may be used for dishes, &c. The drawers g may be used forclothing, and the shelves may be used for toilet articles. In the upperportion of the base portion a and accessible at its front is a drawerfw, in which may be placed tablecloths.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that our invention may beused as a chiffonnier, cupboard, desk, dining-table, or bureau, and whenput to the latter use the advantages of the mirror k will be realized.

It will be readily understood that We may make slight alterations in theconstruction above described without departing materially from thespirit of our invention.

Having now described this construction and operation, what we desire tosecure by Letters Patent is- IOO 1. An article of furniturel comprisinga lower body portion, an upper body projecting above the lower bodyportion and having a portion over-hanging the lower body portion,

5 said overhanging portion having hook-receiv- Io adapted to support theforward portion of the top and a spring-catch on the under side of thetop for engagement with the support to hold it in inoperative positi'on.

2. In an article of furniture, the combina- I5 tion witha lower bodyportion of a back portion extending thereabove, an upper body portionhinged to the back portion and overhanging the lower body portion, saidupper body being adapted to fold to lie horizontally zo upon the lowerbody portion, a top for'th'e lower body portion removable therefrom andhaving hooks, hook-receiving devices onthe back `portion to receive thehooks and hold the top on the lower body portion, hook-re'- ceivingmeans on the upper body portion to receive the hooks of the top, andhold the top above the lower body portion, a support hinged to theunderside of the top to rest on the lower body portion and support thetop in an inclined position, and a latch for holding the support ininoperative position.

In testimony whereof we affix our seals and sign our names in thepresence of two witnesses.

cAMILLE s'r. HILAIRE. [n s.] ETTIENNE sr. HILAIRE. [Le] Witnesses:

RALPH PRINCE, WILLIAM BALcH.

